There’s no doubt about it, outdoor lights are what gives visitors and passerby’s a first impression of your house from the street. Needless to say, equipping your home or office with proper illumination also plays a very important role when it comes to your comfort level. The following guide will help you learn about the most valuable factors so that you can select the perfect outdoor wall lights for your needs.

The first factor that you should consider is the size of the wall light. If you are replacing your old fixtures, new lights don’t necessary have to have the same size or hold the same power capacity. Calculate the amount of light that the area requires and then look for wall lights that will match the requirements. If you have a hard time deciding what lamp to select, always go with the larger one. In addition to that, remember that the front door is the most important door of any building, which means it should have the largest, fanciest wall light fixture.

The next factors to consider when selecting wall lights are color and style. Remember to choose a fixture that will complement the style of the building. Outdoor wall lights are usually made from bronze, stainless steel, satin nickel and similar materials that look great with both traditional and contemporary constructions. In addition to style, pay attention to the durability of the fixture and its resistance to weather changes.

The installation location and mounting height are other details to consider. All of the outdoor wall lights that you select should be installed above eye level. This will ensure that you can see the light from a distance and it won’t come directly in the eyes of people approaching the building.

How much wattage should outdoor lights consume? Most decorative outdoor wall lights should not use more than 60 watts for incandescent fixtures and 20-30 watt for CFL ones. Before you select any wall lights, calculate their operating cost and look for the most efficient options.

Where to install outdoor wall lights? Usually, locations that have doors or tracks around the house require illumination during the darker time of the day. Garage doors, for instance, should have a proper light to help you find your way in the dark. If your budget is limited and you can’t spend much money on decorative lights for the entire building, equipping the doors with energy-efficient wall lights should be enough.

What is the best wall light type to install outdoors? The best wall light to install both indoors and out is the one that uses less energy while providing you with great lighting options. Today, LED is the technology that saves your money and at the same time has minimum impact on the environment.